The Kogi State Government on Sunday said it had uncovered a multi-billion Naira pension fraud perpetrated under the past administrations in the state.
According to the government, an audit report over the alleged fraud said it stood at over 4.3 billion and was perpetrated between 2010 and 2015.
Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and Captain Idris Wada were governors during the period under review.
The director general of media and publicity to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, said the report showed that the syndicate was diverting pension and gratuity funds to private accounts, using names of unintended beneficiaries to the detriment of pensioners in the state.
On assumption of office, the governor of the State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, disturbed by the level of unpaid pensions in the state, ordered a comprehensive audit of pension funds in the State.
Fanwo said the revelations of the audit have been mind-boggling, revealing the huge fraud in the pension administration under the two administrations in the State.
He, however, said governor had vowed that those who were found guilty would be prosecuted.
The governor’s spokesperson, however, described the development as shocking, saying the Governor is “sad” over the incident.
“His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello has expressed disappointment over the unfortunate diversion of pension funds during the last two administrations in the State. He has found it very hard to understand how people put in authority could punish the senior citizens of our dear State by diverting monies meant for their pensions and gratuities into private pockets.
“To this end, the Governor has directed the publication of the full reports, promising that anyone found culpable will be prosecuted to explain their heinous crimes against innocent pensioners in the state.
“The present administration in the State is fighting corruption. To move forward, we must clean up our corrupt past and redeem whatever we can to instill discipline in the system and confidence in our people’s minds. We will never condone acts of corruption.
“We have been repaying bonds that were either stolen or misapplied. We are repaying loans that were taken and stolen outrightly by the previous administrations. These are the things affecting our liquidity as a State.”
Credit: Tribune
